Brodie Kostecki’s Dick Johnson Racing Ford Mustang at Ruapuna. Image: Shayla Hall
The inaugural ITM Christchurch Super440 promises to be one of the biggest Supercars events in history, with 540km of racing totalling 172 laps.
The threat of Cyclone Vaiunu thwarted Sunday morning’s 120km race at Taupo, which has been added to the Ruapuna program – making it more Christchurch Super560 than Super440.
It means racing across all three days, with Kiwi Supercars fans to be treated to an additional race on Friday afternoon.
Brodie Kostecki won the opening race at Taupo on the super soft tyre before Ryan Wood scored a come-from-behind win in closer.
With four races and a new track for most of the championship drivers to get acclimated with, it’s anyone’s guess who will win.
When is the ITM Christchurch Super440?
The ITM Christchurch Super440 takes place on April 17-19 at Ruapuna in New Zealand’s South Island.
Click here to see what it takes to build the Gold Coast street circuit
It marks the second leg in a New Zealand double-header after the ITM Taupo Super440 a week prior.
Christchurch Super440 Supercars sessions
Friday, April 17
Duration
Local (NZST)
AEST
ACST
AWST
Practice
45 minutes
9:35
7:35
7:05
5:35
Qualifying for Race 1
30 minutes
14:15
12:15
11:45
10:15
Race 1
37 laps
16:35
14:35
14:05
12:35
Saturday, April 18
Qualifying for Race 2
30 minutes
10:05
8:05
7:35
6:05
Qualifying for Race 3
30 minutes
11:00
9:00
8:30
7:00
Race 2
37 laps
12:45
10:45
10:15
8:45
Race 3
37 laps
16:10
14:10
13:40
12:10
Sunday, April 19
Qualifying for Race 4
30 minutes
11:50
9:50
9:20
7:50
Top 10 Shootout
30 minutes
12:45
10:45
10:15
8:45
Race 4
61 laps
15:05
13:05
12:35
11:05
Supercars Christchurch Super440 qualifying explained
Supercars will use two qualifying formats for the Christchurch Super440.
Format 2 will be used for Race 1, Race 2, and Race 3.
That will feature two, back-to-back sessions. Part one will feature all 24 cars on track for 12 minutes. The top 10 cars from part one will advance to part two, where they will take to the track for eight minutes.
Format 3 will be used for Race 4.
The slowest six cars will be eliminated after part one, leaving 18 cars for part two. After part two, the eight slowest cars will be eliminated while 10 fastest cars will advance to the Top 10 Shootout. Part one and part two will each last 12 minutes.
How long is each Supercars race at Christchurch?
Race 1, Race 2, and Race 3 at the Christchurch Super440 are 37 laps (120km) apiece. Race 3 is the longest at 61 laps (200km).
Friday’s race and Saturday’s two races will require one pit stop for a minimum of two tyre changes while Sunday’s finale will feature a minimum of two pit stops for fuel and tyres.
Tyre compounds at Supercars Christchurch Super440 explained.
Supercar will use soft compound tyres for Race 1, Race 2, and Race 4 of the Christchurch Super440, as well as the corresponding qualifying session.
Race 3 of the weekend will feature super soft compound tyres.
Teams are not allowed to mix tyre compounds in-race.
Supercars Christchurch Super440 schedule (NZST/local time)
Friday April 17
Start
Finish
Category
Duration
Session
8:20
8:50
Events
Safety & Course Car Tours and Pit Lane Walk
9:00
9:20
GTNZ
0:20
Practice 1
9:35
10:20
Supercars
0:45
Practice
10:35
10:55
Formula Ford
0:20
Practice 1
11:05
11:25
Historic
0:20
Practice
11:40
12:10
Supercars
0:30
Event Rides
12:25
12:45
GTNZ
0:20
Qualifying
12:55
13:15
Formula Ford
0:20
Qualifying
13:40
14:00
Historic
0:20
Qualifying
14:15
14:27
Supercars
0:12
Q1 Race 10
14:37
14:45
Supercars
0:08
Q2 Race 10
15:05
1 lap after 15:33
GTNZ
0:30
Race 1
15:45
1 lap after 16:03
Formula Ford
0:20
Race 1
16:35
1 lap after 17:48
Supercars
37 laps
Race 10
Saturday April 18
Start
Finish
Category
Duration
Session
8:25
8:45
Events
0:20
Safety and Course Car Tours & Pit Lane Walk
8:55
9:05
Supercars
0:10
TV Track Time
9:15
9:45
GTNZ
0:30
Race 2
10:05
10:17
Supercars
0:12
Q1 Race 11
10:25
10:37
Supercars
0:12
Q2 Race 11
11:00
11:12
Supercars
0:12
Q1 Race 12
11:20
11:32
Supercars
0:12
Q2 Race 12
11:37
11:50
Events
0:13
Entertainment
11:55
12:15
Formula Ford
0:20
Race 2
12:45
1 lap after 13:58
Supercars
37 laps
Race 11
14:05
14:15
Events
0:10
Entertainment
14:25
14:55
GTNZ
0:30
Race 3
15:05
15:25
Historic
0:20
Race 1
16:10
1 lap after 17:23
Supercars
37 laps
Race 12
Sunday April 19
Start
Finish
Category
Duration
Session
9:05
9:25
Formula Ford
0:20
Race 3
9:35
9:55
Historic
0:20
Race 2
10:05
10:30
Events
0:25
Super Fan Experience (Pit Lane)
10:05
10:30
Events
0:25
Safety and Course Car Tours
10:30
10:45
Events
0:15
Drivers Parade
10:50
11:30
GTNZ
0:40
Race 4
11:50
12:02
Supercars
0:12
Q1 Race 13
12:10
12:22
Supercars
0:12
Q2 Race 13
12:45
13:15
Supercars
0:30
Top Ten Shootout
13:30
13:50
Formula Ford
0:20
Entertainment
14:00
14:20
Historic
0:20
Race 4
15:05
1 lap after 16:53
Supercars
61 laps
Race 13
How to watch the Christchurch Super440 on TV in Australia
Live coverage of the Christchurch Super440 will be live on Foxtel via Fox Sports across all three days. There is no live free-to-air coverage.
How to live stream the Christchurch Super440 in Australia
The Christchurch Super440 will be broadcast live on subscription streaming services Foxtel Go and Kayo Sports from Friday through to Sunday.
How to watch the Christchurch Super440 in New Zealand
Viewers in New Zealand can watch the Christchurch Super440 via Sky Sports or live stream it on Sky Sports Now and Sky Go.
Taupo Christchurch Super440 TV broadcast start times (AEST)
Friday, April 17
Foxtel/Kayo – 7:15am AEST
Saturday, April 18
Foxtel/Kayo – 7:15am AEST
Sunday, April 19
Foxtel/Kayo – 7:00am AEST
Christchurch Super440 ticket details
Tickets for the Supercars Christchurch Super440 are available via Ticketek or the Supercars website. Early estimates are for an event sellout.
Supercars drivers who have raced at Ruapuna
What are the support categories at the Christchurch Super440?
The Repco Supercars Championship will be supported at Ruapuna by Historic Touring Cars, Formula Ford, and GT.
Will there be live updates?
Speedcafe will provide real-time, live updates from every Supercars session at the Christchurch Super440.
Is Liam Lawson racing in Supercars?
Despite reports of Liam Lawson potentially racing in Supercars during the break, the Formula 1 star will not race at the Christchurch Super440.
Are there any signing sessions at the Christchurch Super440?
There is one signing session featuring all 24 drivers on Saturday, April 18 from 8:35am NZST in Merchandise Alley at Ruapuna.
Will there be a driver parade?
Before qualifying for the 200km feature race on Sunday at the Christchurch Super440, drivers will be paraded around Ruapuna at 10:30am NZST.
The Christchurch Super440 map.
CLICK HERE to download your Christchurch Super440 map
Christchurch Super440 travel and parking information
There is free parking in the northern carpark at Ruapuna but is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pre-paid premium parking has sold out. Those who have premium parking will enter via Gate B between Turn 10 and 11.
There is also parking at the Canterbury Agricultural Park, which will have a free shuttle to the event that operates until 6:30pm NZST across all three days.
Alternatively, fans can take a shuttle from the Christchurch CBD, with return tickets from $30.
More details are available HERE via the Supercars website.
Jason Richards Memorial Trophy points after the Taupo Super440
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Diff
1
Ryan Wood
Walkinshaw TWG Racing
213
2
Broc Feeney
Triple Eight Race Engineering
196
17
3
Will Brown
Triple Eight Race Engineering
183
30
4
Brodie Kostecki
Dick Johnson Racing
172
41
5
Chaz Mostert
Walkinshaw TWG Racing
167
46
6
Matt Payne
Grove Racing
157
56
7
James Golding
Blanchard Racing Team
138
75
8
Anton De Pasquale
Team 18
111
102
9
Jack Le Brocq
Matt Stone Racing
102
111
10
Kai Allen
Grove Racing
91
122
11
Andre Heimgartner
Brad Jones Racing
88
125
12
Cameron Waters
Tickford Racing
87
126
13
Cameron Hill
Brad Jones Racing
75
138
14
David Reynolds
Team 18
69
144
15
Thomas Randle
Tickford Racing
69
144
16
Jayden Ojeda
PremiAir Racing
66
147
17
Aaron Cameron
Blanchard Racing Team
60
153
18
Cooper Murray
Erebus Motorsport
58
155
19
Zach Bates
Matt Stone Racing
58
155
20
Macauley Jones
Brad Jones Racing
57
156
21
Rylan Gray
Dick Johnson Racing
51
162
22
Declan Fraser
PremiAir Racing
49
164
23
Jobe Stewart
Erebus Motorsport
24
189
24
Jackson Walls
Triple Eight Race Engineering
14
199
Repco Supercars Championship points after Taupo Super440
Pos
Driver
Team
Wins
Poles
Points
Diff
Gap
1
Brodie Kostecki
Dick Johnson Racing
4
2
657
2
Broc Feeney
Triple Eight Race Engineering
3
2
638
19
19
3
Matt Payne
Grove Racing
0
0
569
88
69
4
Cameron Waters
Tickford Racing
0
0
544
113
25
5
Ryan Wood
Walkinshaw TWG Racing
1
1
523
134
21
6
Anton De Pasquale
Team 18
1
1
465
192
58
7
Chaz Mostert
Walkinshaw TWG Racing
0
0
449
208
16
8
Jack Le Brocq
Matt Stone Racing
0
0
432
225
17
9
Will Brown
Triple Eight Race Engineering
0
1
428
229
4
10
James Golding
Blanchard Racing Team
0
1
424
233
4
11
Kai Allen
Grove Racing
0
0
396
261
28
12
Thomas Randle
Tickford Racing
0
0
346
311
50
13
David Reynolds
Team 18
0
0
318
339
28
14
Cameron Hill
Brad Jones Racing
0
0
316
341
2
15
Andre Heimgartner
Brad Jones Racing
0
0
311
346
5
16
Jayden Ojeda
PremiAir Racing
0
0
257
400
54
17
Macauley Jones
Brad Jones Racing
0
0
244
413
13
18
Aaron Cameron
Blanchard Racing Team
0
0
241
416
3
19
Declan Fraser
PremiAir Racing
0
0
234
423
7
20
Rylan Gray
Dick Johnson Racing
0
0
229
428
5
21
Zach Bates
Matt Stone Racing
0
0
219
438
10
22
Jackson Walls
Triple Eight Race Engineering
0
0
183
474
36
23
Cooper Murray
Erebus Motorsport
0
0
172
485
11
24
Jobe Stewart
Erebus Motorsport
0
0
157
500
15
